create table test_case_when ( a varchar2(5), b varchar2(5) ); insert into test_case_when values ('*','*'); insert into test_case_when values ('+','+'); insert into test_case_when values ('-','-'); insert into test_case_when values ('.','.'); select a, case when b = '*' then 'star' when b = '+' then 'plus' when b = '-' then 'minus' else '????' end from test_case_when;